Adjustable wrench



Dec. 15, 1964 w, DAVIS 3,161,092

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Filed May 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wilbur A. Davis INVENTOR.

BY Attorneys Dec. 15, 1964 w. A. DAVIS ADJUSTABLE WRENCH 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 10, 1962 United States Patent "Ce 3,1613%. ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Wilbur A. Davis, RR. ll, Mahornet, Ill. Filed May is, 1962, Sell. No. waste 11 (Ilaims. (El. fil -123) This invention relates to an adjustable jaw type of wrench capable of being quickly adjusted for engaging non-circular heads of fasteners of different dimensions.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful adjustable wrench construction which is rapidlyand accurately adjustable for engagement with non-circular fastener heads such as hexagonal heads of different dimensions and to apply torque thereto without loosening of the tight grip on the fastener head exerted by the jaws of the wrench.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable jaw type of wrench capable of tightly gripping a fastener head and yet readily released therefrom.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the adjustable wrench device of the present invention comprises a tubular handle having a rearwardly curved opening at one end through which a pair of jaw members project, one of the jaw members being fixed to the handle, the other jaw member being slidably movable in :an opening direction under the bias of a spring and displaceable by a wedge element in a closing direction under the influence of a force transmitting linkage applying a jaw closing force at a high mechanical advantage in response to retractive movement of the Wedge element. Movement of the wedge element in both directions is accomplished by means of a manually rotatable gear element the teeth of which :are exposed through the opposite sides of the tubular handle adjacent a rear portion thereof,'the gear element capable of being positively locked in position or gear driven at a reduction ratio when desired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, andin which:

BihlfidZ Patented Dec. 15, 1964 of the handle 12 is vertically enlarged so as to accommodate the projection therefrom of a stationary jaw member 16 and a movable jaw member 18. The rear end portion 29 of the handle 12 is slightly enlarged in width as compared to the rest of the handle so as to better accommo- FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the adjustable wrench device of the present invention.

stantially through a plane indicated by section line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial'sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 but showing the wrench device in another operative position.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiall through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view of the rear portion'of the wrench device similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 2, but showing the wrench device in another operative condition.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 6 but showing the wrench device in a still further operative condition.

FIGURE 9 is a partial side elevational view of the wrench device as viewed from a plane indicated by section line 9-9 in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURES 1 and 2, that the adjust-able wrench date hand gripping. The handle 12 is provided along its entire length, with a relatively. heavy top wall portion 22, the top wall portion being connected to parallel side walls 24 and 26, the side walls being interconnected by a bottom wall 23 which extends along an intermediate portion of the handle 12 terminating at its forward end at the lower curved opening 3th of the forward portion of the handle through which the movable jaw member 18 projects. Aligned guide slots 32 are formed in each of the side walls 24 and 26 intermediate the forward and rear ends of the handle for purposes to be hereafter explained. Also interconnected between the side walls 24 and 26 adjacent the rear portion of the handle, by. means of rivet 34, is a fillcr element 36 adapted to guidingly support movement of an engaging slide element 38 continuously engaging the movable jaw 18 to resist angular displacement thereof from its path of movement. Rearwardly spaced from the filler element 3% within the rear portion 20 of the handle, is a journal block 40 connected to the side walls of the handle by means of the rivet 4-2. The journal block 4 0 is thereby operative to rotatably and slidably mount a shaft element 44 to which a slidable gear member 46 is connected at one end, the other end of the shaft element 4d being integral with a control handle portion 48 adapted to extend upwardly through an end slot 50 formed in the top wall portion 22 of the handle at the rear end thereof. The control handle portion 48 may thereby be manipulated for purposes to be hereafter explained.

The stationary jaw member 16 is fixed to the handle 12 by means of 1a riveted pivot pin 52 and a rivet 5 h spaced therefrom. The rivets 52 and 54 thus extend through a portion 56 of the stationary jaw 16 which is of a reduced Width enclosed between the side walls of the handle as compared with the Wider grip portions 58 of the stationary jaw. The movable jaw 18 is also provided with an exposed wider grip portion 653 integral with an elongated handle enclosed portion 62 of reduced width. The top edge 64 of the movable jaw member I3 enclosed within the handle, is provided with a spring-retaining recess 66 adapted to receive one end of a compression spring 68 the other end of which reacts against the handle at 70 so as to bias the movable jaw member 18 in a'jaw opening direction away from the stationary jaw 16. In order to guide the movement of the movable jaw in the proper direction transverse to the handle, a-jaw guide slot 72 is opposite end to the side walls 24 and 26 of the handle as more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 5. Thus, the movable jaw member 13 may be displaced in a transverse direction with respect to the handle between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 respectively. The lower portion of the movable jaw member 18 is therefore provided on opposite sides thereof, with a limit shoulder 76 between the enclosed narrower portion 62 of the jaw member and a lower oam follower portion 78. The shoulder edge 76 is arcuate in shape so as to abut against the lower edges of the side walls forming the opening 30 aforementioned. The portion 78 is therefore provided with a lower arcuate follower surface 80 for purposes to be hereafter explained. The rear end of the movable jaw member 18 is provided with an inclined mating thrust surface 82 which is adapted to be in continuous contact engagement with the forward downwardly facing wedge surface 83 of the wedge element 38.

The wedge element 38 has an upper surface in sliding contact along its entire length with the top wall portion 22 of the handle. The lower surface of the wedge element 38 bears only its rear end on the filler element 36. It will therefore be apparent, that upon displacement of the wedge element 38 in a forward direction from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 for example, it will cause displacement of the jaw member 18 in an opening direction since the wedge surface 83 will cam the jaw member downwardly. However, the jaw opening force applied externally to the movable jaw member through its grip portion 60 would tend to pivot the jaw member about the pin 74 and would be resisted by the wedge element 38. The force of the compression spring 68 on the other hand by being closely spaced to the guide pin 74, would apply an opening force to the movable jaw member in such a manner as to avoid resistance by the Wedge element 38 as would occur when the externally applied opening force aforementioned is applied to the exposed grip portion 60 of the jaw member. It will be further appreciated, that the wedge element 38 in itself is not capable of applying any substantial closing force to the movable jaw member 18 against the bias of the spring 68 when displaced in a rearward or retnactive direction opposite to the forward direction in which the wedge element is effective to apply an opening force.

In order to apply an opening force to the movable jaw member 18 for displacement thereof in an opening direction, a clevis member 84 is pivotally mounted by the pivot pin 52 in straddling relation to the side walls of the handle, the lower end of the clevis member 84 being provided with an arcuate cam portion 86 which engages the follower cam surface 80 on the movable jaw member held in contact with the cam portion 86 by the spring 68. A pair of link members 88 are connected to opposite sides of the clevis member 84 adjacent the lower rear end thereof by means of stub rivets 90. The connecting link members 88 are therefore provided with laterally offset portions 92 for disposition on the outsides of the overlapped portions of the clevis member 84 to which the link members are pivotally connected by the stub rivets 90. The opposite ends of the link members are interconnected by a through n'vet 94 which extends through the guide slots 32 in the side walls of the handle and is also connected to the wedge element 38 for movement therewith. It will therefore be apparent, that when the wedge element 38 is moved in a rearward direction within limits establishedby the guide slots 32, force will be applied at a mechanical advantage to the movable jaw member 18 for displacement thereof by means of the link members 88 and the clevis member 84 camming the jaw member upwardly by means of its camming portion 86 engaging the follower surface 80 on the jaw member. It will also be observed, that the camming portion 86 of the clevis member applies displacing force to the jaw member in closely spaced relation to the guide pin 74 so as to avoid applying any substantial binding force on the wedge surfaces 82 and 83. Thus, closing of the jaws may be effected by a linkage and cam arrangement ineffective to apply an opening force to the jaw member which instead is under the influence of the bias of spring 68 and the wedging force of the wedge element 38 for such purpose. Nevertheless, the retractive movement of the wedging element is operative through the linkage cam arrangement to apply an effective closing force to the movable jaw member. Toward this end, it will be observed from FIGURES 2 and 3, the camming surfaces of the clevis portion 86 has a center of curvature offset with respect to the fixed axis through pin 52 about which the clevis 84 is pivoted.

In order to impart movement to the slidable wedging element 38 in both directions, an adjusting screw member 96 is connected to the rear end of the slide element 38 and is threadedly engageable with a gear member 98 rotatably mounted within the rear portion 20 of the handle having external gear teeth exposed through slots 100 formed in the side walls 24 and 26 of the handle. The gear teeth of the gear member 98 may thereby be engaged by the thumb of an operator for rotating the gear member 98 in one direction or another in order to cause axial displacement of the screw member 96 and the slide element 38 therewith. The gear member 98 may then be locked in position by meshing engagement with the pinion gear 46 connected to the end of the shaft element 44. Accordingly, the gear 46 will be displaced in an axial direction through the handle portion 48 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 for such purpose. The handle portion 48 being disposed within the slot 50, will prevent the gear 46 from rotating and thereby lock the gear member 98 in mesh therewith. Should it be desired to apply under rare circumstances, a larger axial displacing force to the slide element 38, the handle portion 48 may be axially displaced beyond the slot 50 as illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the gear 46 is in full meshing engagement with the gear member 98. The handle portion 48 may then be rotated so as to impart rotation through the gear 46 to the gear member 98 at a reduction ratio and mechanical advantage.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that slidable displacement of the wedge element 38 will be limited by movement of the rivet 94 within the slots 32. Accordingly, the upper edge 102 on the rear ends of the connecting link members 88 may form convenient indicator pointers for cooperation with scales 104 placed on the side walls 24 and 26 of the handle in order to indicate the corresponding dimension of the fastener head 106 adapted to be gripped between the grip portions 58 and 60 of the jaw members 16 and 18. The scales 104 may therefore be placed adjacent to and above the slots 32 on the side walls of the handle as shown in FIGURE 9.

From the foregoing description, the operation and utility of the adjustable wrench device of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the wrench device although easily and accurately adjustably to any desired fastener head dimension, is constructed of relatively few parts which by virtue of the novel alrangement of the present invention cooperate and intenact in a manner to most efliciently sustain the external forces applied thereto and operate in a smooth manner without binding because of externally applied forces.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wrench comprising, a handle, a pair of jaw members, one of said jaw members being fixed to the handle, means slidably supporting the other of said jaw members for displacement transversely to said handle toward and away from said one jaw member, Wedge means slidably mounted in the handle longitudinally thereof in engagement with said other jaw member for resisting angular displacement thereof with respect to said one jaw member, cam means pivotally mounted on said handle in engagement with said other jaw member for slidable displacement thereof with respect to said one jaw member to close said jaw members and link means connecting said wedge means to the cam means for closing the jaw members in response to slidable movement of the wedge means away from the other jaw member.

2. A wrench comprising, a handle, a pair of jaw members, one of said jaw members being fixed to the handle, means slidably supporting the other of said jaw members for displacement transversely to said handle toward and away from said one jaw member, wedge means slidably mounted in the handle longitudinally thereof in engagement with said other jaw member for displacement thereof away from said one jaw member to open said jaw members, cam means pivotally mounted on' said handle in engagement with said other jaw member for displacement thereof toward said one jaw member to. close said jaw members, link means operatively connecting said wedge means to the cam means for closing the jaw members in response to slidable movement of the wedge means away from the other jaw member, manually actuatab le gear means drivingly connected to said Wedge means for movement thereof in opposite directions, and selectively operable means movably mounted in the handle to engage said gear means for locking and driving thereof.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said handle comprises a tubular body member having a forward end portion from which said jaw members project, and a rear end portion mounting said gear means therein.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam means comp-rises a clevis member mounted in straddling relation to the forward end portion of the tubular body member and having an arcuate bridging portion in spring biased contact with an arcuate follower surface on the other jaw member projecting from the forward end portion rearwardly of the jaw members, said clevis member being pivotally connected to Said link means.

5. A wrench comprising, a handle, a pair of jaw members, one of said jaw members being fixed to the handle, means slidably supporting the other of said jaw members for displacement transversely to said handle toward and away from said one jaw member, wedge means slidably mounted in the handle longitudinally thereof in engagement with said other jaw member for displacement thereof away from said one jaw member to open said jaw members, cam means pivotally mounted on said handle in engagement with said other jaw member for displacement thereof toward said one jaw member to close said jaw members, link means operatively connecting said wedge means to the cam means for closing the jaw members in response to slidable movement of the wedge means away from the other jaw member, said handle comprises a'tubular body member having a forward end portion from which said jaw members project, and a rear end portion mounting said wedge means therein.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said cam means comprises a clevis member mounted in straddling relation to the forward end portion of the tubular body member and having an arcuate bridging portion in spring biased contact with an arcuate follower surface on the other jaw member projecting from the forward end portion rear wardly of the jaw members, said clevis member being pivotally connected to saidlink means.

7. An adjustable wrench comprising, handle means, jaw means movably mounted by the handle means for displacement in a jaw adjusting direction, Wedge means movably mounted in the handle means and displ-aceable in a direction transverse to said jaw adjusting direction for resisting displacement of the jaw means by forces externally applied to the jaw means, linkage means operatively connected to the wedge means and engageable with the jaw means for displacement of the jaw means in said jaw adjusting direction in response to displacement of said wedge means in said transverse direction, and gear means mounted in said handle means and drivingly connected to the wedge means for selective displacement thereof in said transverse direction.

8. Thecombination of claim 7, wherein said linkage means comprises, cam means pivotally mounted on said handle means for engagement with the jaw means for displacement thereof in said jaw adjusting direction, and link means pivot-ally connecting said cam means to the wedge means.

9. In a wrench, a fixed jaw, 21 clevis pivotally mounted on said fixed jaw and having an arcuate camming portion, a movable jaw having an arcuate camming surface engaged by said camming portion of the clevis for adjusting the relative positions of the jaws, a handle slidably mounting the movable jaw for movement in one direction relative to the fixed jaw, a wedge element slidably mounted within the handle for movement in a direction at an angle to said one direction, a link pivotally interconnecting the wedge element and the clevis, and coacting thrust portions connected to the wedge element and the movable jaw for resisting displacement of the movable jaw from an adjusted position under load.

10. In a wrench, a handle, a fixed jaw secured to the handle, a movable jaw, means on the handle for slidably guiding the movable jaw for movement in one direction relative to the fixed jaw, cam means pivotally mounted by said handle about a fixed axis, said cam means including a portion engaging the movable jaw on a surface having a center of curvature offset from said fixed axis for displacing the movable jaw in said one direction to an adjusted position, engaging means movably mounted by the handle and continuously engaging the movable jaw for resisting angular displacement thereof from said one direction of movement, and link means operatively connecting the engaging means to the cam means for changing the adjusted position of the movable jaw in response to movement of the engaging means relative to the handle.

11. The combination of claim 10 including adjusting meansmounted by the handle and operatively connected to the engaging means for movement and locking thereof relative to the handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,262 Gregerson Feb. 21, 1906 1,035,886 Markus Aug. 20, 1912 1,126,678 Apfeld Feb. 2, 1915 1,408,275 Eckles Feb. 28, 1922 1,551,085 Carpenter Aug. 25, 1925 1,561,812 White Nov. 17, 1925 1,610,687 King Dec. 14, 1926 2,124,163 Emanuel July 19, 1938 2,827,814 Israel Mar. 25, 1958 

1. A WRENCH COMPRISING, A HANDLE A PAIR OF JAW MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID JAW MEMBERS BEING FIXED TO THE HANDLE, MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTING THE OTHER OF SAID JAW MEMBERS FOR DISPLACEMENT TRANSVERSELY TO SAID HANDLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ONE JAW MEMBER, WEDGE MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE HANDLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OTHER JAW MEMBER FOR RESISTING ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE JAW MEMBER, CAM MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HANDLE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OTHER JAW MEMBER FOR SLIDABLE DISPLACEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE JAW MEMBER TO CLOSE SAID JAW MEMBERS AND LINK MEANS CONNECTING SAID WEDGE MEANS TO THE CAM MEANS FOR CLOSING THE JAW MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF THE WEDGE MEANS AWAY FROM THE OTHER JAW MEMBER. 